Safe sex

Health risks associated with sex

In this second decade of the 21st century the various risks connected with having sex have increased. In 2016, the only real bright spot is that teenage pregnancies are at last going down.

The figures for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are all going up. Syphilis has also become much more common in 2015-2016.This is almost entirely because so many people – whether they're heterosexuals or homosexuals or 'bi' – don't practise safe sex. Recent surveys have demonstrated that Britain is now a pretty promiscuous place.

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Statistics show that men and women are taking more sexual partners than they used to. Practices like going to orgies, joining sex clubs and indulging in 'dogging' (multiple sex in car parks) are quite widespread.

In the male gay world, 'cottaging' and multi-partner saunas continue to be fairly popular. And in many of these situations, people don't use condoms.

Although the teenage pregnancy rate is falling, the under-20s are now losing their virginity very young – and frequently at an age where they don't have any idea about how to protect themselves against the unwanted consequences of sex.

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So inevitably, there are times when teenage love-making, instead of being beautiful and fulfilling, leads to disaster.

Understandably, in all age groups a lot of men and women think that 'it won't happen to me'. But in the year 2015, there are so many sexual infections around that you really do need to be careful.

Unless you're totally faithful to one partner – and he or she is totally faithful to you – you're at some risk.

female infertility – due to pelvic infection caused by sex with an infected man.

It's almost inevitable that other sexual infections will arise during this century – especially if the human race keeps going in for unsafe sex!

Germs have a nasty way of exploiting people's behaviour, which is why – soon after the swinging 60s and 70s – herpes and HIV suddenly emerged.

Back in the 20th century, many people, both straight and gay, enjoyed sex with a variety of partners -- assuming that there was very little danger. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case – since disease rates have increased so much – even among the over-60s! So today, it's only common sense to practise safe sex.

What is safe sex?

Technically, all sexual activity with a partner carries some risk, though the danger of infections is practically non-existent if the two people are completely faithful to each other.

'Petting' with the hands is a fairly safe form of sex and is certainly much less risky than intercourse. So if you're a teenager and you can keep to hand-petting (rather than 'going all the way') – you'll definitely be safer.

What about 'petting' with the mouth?

This is a bit more risky, since it can pass on infections like gonorrhoea and herpes (and rarely syphilis). But at least it can't get you pregnant.

It's now known that oral sex can pass on HIV, though a UK Government committee has assessed the risk as relatively low – and therefore not as great as that associated with vaginal or rectal intercourse.

In 2013, it became clear that oral sex can pass on chlamydia – which is another reason to be careful.

Condoms

If you're going to have sexual intercourse with someone who is not a regular, faithful partner, you should always use a condom.

This can be either a male condom or (much less commonly) a female one. Unfortunately, in 2016 sales of female condoms remain low.

The condom should be worn throughout the entire act of intercourse – putting it on when you're halfway through is simply asking for trouble.

Other 'barrier methods' of contraception, such as the diaphragm or cap, offer little (if any) protection against the transmission of infection.

Another form of barrier is a 'dental dam,' which quite a few people now use when giving or receiving cunnilingus – that is, oral sex given to a woman by her partner (male or female). It certainly provides at least some protection against germs.

Alcohol and other drugs

One of the greatest risks to your health is having sex when you've drunk too much alcohol.

Many people who would normally practise safe sex do become pregnant, or else catch HIV or venereal diseases, through having unprotected sex while drunk.

Some other recreational drugs do also 'lower your resistance' – and so make you more likely to run into trouble sexually.

Women should be especially aware of the recent rise in 'drink-spiking' – the practice in which a man slips a drug into your glass with the intention of making you so woozy that you won't be able to resist sex.

But overall, alcohol is probably the UK's most important cause of unsafe sex.

If you're on a boozy night out, and you're in doubt as to whether it would be safe to have sex with someone – don't!

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